Asian American
 The new United Methodist Asian-American/Pacific Islander Clergywomen’s Association was organized at the churchwide consultation of racial-ethnic clergywomen in Jauary 2008. Elected officers are (left to right) the Rev. Ingrid Wang, treasurer; the Rev. Motoe Yamada, vice chair; the Rev. Nizzi Digan, chair; and the Rev. SungJa Lee Moon, secretary. UMNS photo by Marta W. Aldrich. |
Our concerns
Asian American United Methodists comprise 10 ethnic groups, who speak approximately 17 different languages: Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Formosan (Taiwanese), Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Lao, South Asian (including Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Indonesian and Malaysian) and Vietnamese.
There are approximately 1,200 Asian American United Methodist congregations, churches, fellowships and ministries in the United States.
In 1996, the United Methodist General Conference adopted the Asian American Language Ministry Study to explore and address ministry needs among Asian Americans. The 2004 and 2008 General Conferences both continued that initiative. The study has addressed ministry concerns of this racial/ethnic group in four areas: resource development, leadership development, congregational development, and community development. Plans are to expand it to include Paglago (Filipino Ministry Plan) as well as other ethnic groups with emerging ministries.
Rev. Nam-Jin Jun
Asian American and Pacific Islander Ministries
General Board of Global Ministries
475 Riverside Drive, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10115
Tel: (212) 870-3829
E-mail: njun@gbgm-umc.org
In 2008, the General Conference extended the plan for Advancing United Methodist Ministries with Korean Americans (established in 2000), which addresses ministry needs and concerns of Korean Americans in the United States. For more information about the plan contact:
The Rev. Paul Hak-Soon Chang, Executive Director
United Methodist Council on Korean-American Ministries
General Board of Global Ministries
475 Riverside Drive, 15th floor
New York, NY 10115
Tel: (212) 870-3864 or (917) 446-0966 (mobile)
E-mail: pchang@gbgm-umc.org
The National Federation of Asian American United Methodists (NFAAUM) addresses Asian American United Methodist concerns in general, in addition to the individual ethnic caucuses and plans. NFAAUM publishes a quarterly newsletter “Asian American News,” which can be ordered by contacting NFAAUM. For more information, contact:
Mr. Don Hayashi
1133 Woodland Meadows Drive
Vandalia, OH 45377-1567
Tel: (937) 271-1614 (mobile)
E-mail: hayashidon@aol.com
The NFAAUM also supports Asian American ministries through its Endowment Fund.
For information about the NFAAUM Endowment Fund contact:
The Rev. Lloyd K. Wake
NFAAUM Endowment Fund
436 – 14th Street, Suite 1210
Oakland, CA 94612
Tel: (415) 567-9020
E-mail: mlwake@mindspring.com
For more information contact:
Kathleen A. Thomas-Sano, GCORR Associate General Secretary
E-mail: kthomas-sano@gcorr.org.
Telephone: (202) 547-2271, Ext. 14.
- Church offers hope to Filipinos living amid garbage
- In Manila, the Smokey Mountain garbage dump is home to not only rotting garbage but hundreds of families trapped by poverty.
- Filipino church ministers to destitute families
- In Manila, where the poorest people live among cemetery tombs, The United Methodist Church provides hope to escape the cycle of poverty.
- Korean American Methodist leaders hold summit
- In the first meeting of its kind, church leaders gather to develop a vision for their ministry in the United States.
Resources
Print Resources - Asian/Asian American/Pacific American Theology
Chung, Hyun Kyung. STRUGGLE TO BE THE SUN AGAIN: INTRODUCING ASIAN WOMEN’S THEOLOGY. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1990. ISBN 0-88344-684-7
Kim, Eunjoo Mary. PREACHING THE PRESENCE OF GOD: A HOMILETIC FROM AN ASIAN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8170-1303-2
Lee, Jung Young. MARGINALITY: THE KEY TO MULTICULTURAL THEOLOGY. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995. ISBN 0-8006-2810-1.
Matsuoka, Fumitaka. THE COLOR OF FAITH: BUILDING COMMUNITY IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Cleveland, OH: UC Press, 1998. ISBN 0-8298-1281-4.
Matsuoka, Fumitaka. OUT OF SILENCE: EMERGING THEMES IN ASIAN AMERICAN CHURCHES. Cleveland, OH: UC Press, 1995. ISBN 0-8298-1025-0.
Ng, David, Editor. PEOPLE ON THE WAY: ASIAN NORTH AMERICAN DISCOVERING CHRIST, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY. ISBN 0-8170-1242-7. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1996.
Park, Andrew Sung. RACIAL CONFLICT AND HEALING: AN ASIAN-AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1996. ISBN 1-57075-078-5.
Park, Andrew Sung, THE WOUNDED HEART OF GOD: The Asian Concept of Han and the Christian Doctrine of Sin, Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993.
Park. Jong Chun. CRAWL WITH GOD, DANCE IN THE SPIRIT!: A CREATIVE FORMATION OF KOREAN THEOLOGY OF THE SPIRIT. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998. ISBN 0-687-05689-6.
